ASAP Book Reviews: 28 in 2020

Well, writing one blog post a month throughout 2020 clearly did not happen. My last post was in April 2020, and now it's been almost 1 year since I've posted any writing online.

Luckily, I had the month of November off work in-between jobs and got to participate in NaNoWriMo- National Novel Writing Month. The general goal is to write a full novel, roughly 50,000 words. My personal goal was simply to work on my novel for 21 out of the 30 days, 3 out of 4 weeks. I did complete that goal, and I'm very proud of myself. I wrote the first portion of my book- 15,000 words. (Special shoutout to my friend Rachel who wrote over 70,000 words for her novel! Without her, I would not have started on the NaNoWriMo journey.)

After starting a new job in December and now preparing to start grad school, I've pushed the book to the side. I don't know yet if I'll ever finish writing it, in favor of choosing a different story, but I'm just proud of myself for taking the challenge. I'm not ready to share it yet, but later this year I'll definitely post a chapter if anybody wants to give me feedback! 

To continue to make writing FUN for me & to flex those creative muscles, I'm hoping to write 3 days a week, even if it's just one page in my journal about my day or a few paragraphs of a future book idea. For now, I've been reading a lot of books written by other people, because that's what you've got to do when you write your own novel some day. I love following how my favorite authors create characters and connections, understanding different writing styles, and losing myself in someone else's story.

The last time I wrote a blog post was a review of all the books I read in 2019. 

To get back on the blog train, this time I'll share reviews of all the books I read in 2020. For these 28 books, here are my ASAP Reviews- As Short As Possible. Having a lot more free time allowed me to read a lot more books, so I really will make these as short as possible :)

28 Books in 2020

This is the order I read, but the highlights are my top 5 of the year

1. Catch & Kill by Ronan Farrow: A journalist uncovers Harvey Weinstein's sexual scandals --- Shocking & mind-blowing. Truly a page-turner. I'd recommend it to anyone who works in the corporate world or is interested in the film industry. 

2. No Happy Endings by Nora McInerny: A memoir from the woman who married a man going through cancer in his 20s and then later re-married --- She is conversational & genuine about her daily life under depressing circumstances. Much of the story is sad, but she keeps her tone uplifting. I liked it but didn't love it.

3. PS from Paris by Marc Levy: A restaurant owner and an actress develop a romantic relationship in the city of love --- I listened to the audiobook which was entertaining because of the French accents. It was a cute story, and I'll definitely add another of this most-read French author's novels to my list.

4. The Color Purple by Alice Walker: A former slave woman endures adult life in a tumultuous relationship, hoping her long-lost sister will return someday --- This story had much more to it than I expected. I can't believe I waited so long to read this classic, and to watch the movie- Whoopie Goldberg's debut! I felt every emotion from rage to sadness to joy.

5. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson: A memoir from the revolutionary lawyer in Alabama who serves death row prisoners --- Bryan's writing style is just detailed enough to convey important historical details and just conversational enough to make me feel part of the story. I was heartbroken learning about his clients and it has made me pay more attention to mass incarceration.

6. The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz: Feminists travel through time to support women in subtle-enough ways to not disrupt history --- Very different from what I typically read, but it kept me guessing at how all the characters and time periods would tie together. I was lost a few times, but overall thought it was a great combination of fantasy and historical fiction. 

7. The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda: A journalist moves to a new town with her best friend who soon disappears --- This author never disappoints me! There were plenty of twists, intriguing characters, and just a bit of romance.

8. The Safest Lies by Megan Miranda: A teenage girl who has always lived with her mother starts high school. When a classmate rescues her from a high-profile accident, her mother disappears --- As you've probably guessed by now, someone always disappears in Megan's stories, and she sure knows how to drag you through twists until revealing the truth at the very end. I flew this one and will continue to read her other novels. Very much worth my occasional nightmares during reading.

9. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: A preppy family of 6 lives in a perfect Ohio town. Their daily lives become more complicated when a new, less-traditional family moves to town. --- Loved the book, loved the Hulu show, but I was disappointed that some key plot points were so different. The story was super intriguing but her writing style was not my favorite.

10. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano: Twelve-year-old Edward from Manhattan is the sole survivor of a plane crash en route to California, in which he loses his father, mother & older brother. --- If you're prepared for a really sad story, you'll get through this one and come out of it more compassionate, more thoughtful, and more appreciative of life's humorous moments. Ann is an extremely talented writer, & I'd love to see this one get made into a movie. 

11. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid: A black twenty-something is a nanny for a rich white family in Philly. The main perspectives come from her & the mom, Alix. --- This story was so simple yet so captivating and thought-provoking. The rotating perspectives and frequent monologue & dialogue made it a quick read for me. Kiley's writing style is beautiful.

12. Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore: Oona's 19th birthday is on New Year's Eve of 1982. The next morning, she wakes up in a different year, still herself but at a different age. She "leaps around the timeline" every year of her life. --- This was much less sci-fi than the time travel book. Once you buy into the alternate reality Montimore has created, you'll love her scenery descriptions, well-developed characters, and cleverness. I would love to read it again when I'm older!

13. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett: In the past, 2 inseparable twin sisters escape their racist small town to pursue a better life in New Orleans. In the present, they are completely disconnected, while one poses as a white woman & the other returns home to their mother. --- Phenomenal. At first it was hard to not mix up so many characters, but I eventually kept them in order & appreciated their depth. Every page has a beautiful nugget of wisdom, a humorous quote, or a thought-provoking line. I'd love to read it again & see what I missed the first time. 

14. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb: A therapist shares her experience going to therapy while caring for patients at various life stages, including old age, divorce, & cancer --- Lori's professional path is so interesting, from how she transitioned from TV production to present career in therapy, including how she deals her own personal therapy simultaneously. I'm glad I bought instead of rented this so I can read snippets when I'm older. I learned a lot but the rotating stories kept me from feeling overwhelmed.

15. Naturally Tan by Tan France: The beloved fashion expert of Netflix's Queer Eye uses clothing metaphors to share his life story from childhood to present career, family life and marriage --- Tan is a joy to watch on TV, listen to in interviews, & read in prose. He has a fascinating life & an honest take on American celebrity lifestyle. He is a great example of balancing self-care and hard work. I also love that is favorite US state is Utah! 

16. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner: A fashion blogger, Daphne, visits Cape Cod for the ridiculously fancy wedding of her former high school friend. A murder ensues & Daphne must help solve the crime. --- I thought this would be cheesy, but it was really well-written and kept me guessing. I hadn't read Jennifer Weiner in years & now I want to read through as many of her books as possible.

17. In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner: Two sisters couldn't be more different, except they share a shoe size. Growing up could tear them further apart or bring them close together --- Like I said, I could read all of her books. Since this is one of her earlier stories, it was a nice visit back to the early 2000s. I loved all of the characters and how the story came together.

18. In Awe by John O'Leary: This motivational speaker reflects on his childhood tragedy to teach us how to live "in awe" like children --- John does an amazing job of connecting to readers without being preachy or treating this like a self-help book. From a childhood accident, he had burns on over 90% of his body, and he has recovered to have a beautiful life & become a business owner, husband & father. I love following his podcast & will definitely read his other novels!

19. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai: A young woman from Pakistan recounts her childhood & describes how she recovered from being shot in the head by the Taliban & became an education activist. --- Her conversational tone combined with wisdom beyond her years made this book a joy to read. While I have not experienced this kind of struggle, she really does motivate to write my own stories because she is so good at it, and she's such a powerful example of the importance of education and storytelling.

20. The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore: One man interviews another of the same name. They also share dark skin color & are of similar age- but one became a successful, highly-educated military vet while the other is imprisoned for supposed murder --- This was eye-opening on many fronts, including racism, gentrification, immigration & incarceration. I really hope the other Wes Moore can achieve justice, & the author provides awesome resources that, like Just Mercy, propel us to get involved. 

21. Swerve by Inglath Cooper: A med student acts as an older sister & a parent in her teenage sister's life. After the younger sister & her friend go to a festival, they are kidnapped. --- I enjoyed this more than I expected. I can tell Cooper really did her research on harsh topics like parentless children, private investigation, and sex trafficking. This story kept me engaged all the way to the end.

22. Good Guys Love Dogs by Inglath Cooper: A small-town veterinarian befriends the cute new guy in town, a single-dad who moved from NYC with his teenage son for a fresh start. --- Unfortunately I didn't love this one as much as Swerve, probably because the alternating perspectives weren't as impactful this time. I found myself wanting to just get to the predictable ending, but if it were a rom com movie I'm not saying I wouldn't watch it :)

23. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins: In present-day Acapulco, a mother & son narrowly escape a gang shooting in their backyard, while the rest of their family is completely eliminated. The two have no choice but to journey to "el norte" in hopes of crossing the border to America --- Absolutely one of the best books I've read. I know there was controversy about the author's ethnic background, & I should look into that more, but from what I've read so far, I believe she did prolific research in order to tell this fictional story of what so many Mexican immigrants have endure in real life. Tears fell, my jaw dropped, and I was truly amazed by the beautiful way Cummins pulled this together. 

24. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes: In 1930s Kentucky, a group of brave women ride on horses to deliver books from the town library to educate even the farthest of rural families. All are locals, except for one woman who has arrived from England after her marriage to son of the most influential family in town --- I am lucky to share a name w/ this rockstar author, & I will read anything she writes. Like Jennifer Weiner, I haven't finished enough of her books but I eventually want to read them all! This almost made my top 5 for its stunning scenery descriptions, cleverly-entwined characters, and subtle secrets. 

25. The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant: The basketball legend details his career from middle school all the way up to NBA stardom, including family & friends who've impacted his life --- Honestly, I may not have thought to read this if it wasn't for Kobe's passing in early 2020, but I am grateful I did. We all know he's a hero, but understanding his ups & downs through his own words was inspiring & motivating. We really lost an icon, & I hope generations continue to honor him & his family.

26. Know My Name by Chanel Miller: The anonymous Stanford sexual assault victim of the widely-covered Brock Turner lawsuit finally reveals herself & explains her whole journey from the incident to the court case, & to the present --- I want everyone I know to read this. If nothing else, please check out her impact statement on Buzzfeed. Her dialogue format took a few chapters to get used to, but the short chapters & conversational tone made it a smooth read. On the other hand, the rollercoaster of heavy emotions made me feel outraged, sad, yet unable to put it down. Of course I don't know her personally, but I'm so proud of her bravery. She perpetuates the conversation about consequences for predators as well as support for people who've been hurt.

27. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter: A family of Polish Jews keep their faith during the horrors of the Holocaust, even when they are scattered across the globe & don't know if or when they'll reunite --- If you shy away from WWII novels, try this one anyway. This author is the actual great-granddaughter of the patriarch of the family in the book, very closely-based on their real history, which she knew nothing about until age 15. I couldn't imagine having family members who survived the Holocaust, let alone not knowing about it until that age. Her grasp of that time period is remarkable & her way of weaving of all the characters' stories together is incredible.

28. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: Whether through childhood obsession, high school English class, or the great Great Gerwig, we all know this story. --- After 25 years of life & watching the 1994 AND 2019 movies, I finally read this. The scenery is magical, the love is palpable, and the sisters make me want to take on the best of each of their personalities. Still, it often felt like a burden to finish it- I agree it's a classic, but the old-timey language & extra details sometimes clouded this beautiful story. 

Usually I'm an advocate for "Read the book before you see the movie", but I'm glad I watched the movies first. It helped me imagine the scenery while reading & made me fall in love with the characters (At first, I was team Christian Bale, but am now also in love w/ Timothee Chalemet, it's fine)

                             

So, what's next?

This year (it's 2021 now, right?), I'm hoping to read 30 books. I won't hold myself to that specific number, and I won't finish a book if I really don't like it. What I care about is learning new skills, keeping my brain strong, and opening my mind to history or perspectives I've never considered.

I'll write my next review in April so there are less books spread out across more posts!

Thank you for reading, and as always...

Be Excellent to Each Other